Annecy

Annecy is a lake town in the Haute-Savoie department of Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, France, about 140 km east of Lyon. Direct TER trains from Lyon Part-Dieu take roughly 1 hour 50 minutes and cost around EUR 32 (~$35.85) each way, running every one to two hours. Buses from Lyon Perrache with FlixBus and BlaBlaCar Bus take about 2 hours 15 minutes and are sometimes cheaper, while driving via the A432 and A41 takes about 1 hour 45 minutes. The station on Rue de la Gare is a 10-minute walk from the old town and the lake, so no local transport is needed. Because of the travel time, an early train around 7:30 to 8:30 gives the best use of the day. The morning suits the old town: the canals of the Thiou river, the Palais de l'Isle on its island, the Chateau d'Annecy above the lanes and the market streets, with a coffee or a pastry from a canal-side cafe. Lunch can be taken in the old town, where Savoyard dishes such as tartiflette and fondue are common. The afternoon is for the Lac d'Annecy promenade and the Champ de Mars gardens, followed by a swim at the Marquisats or Albigny lake beaches in summer or a lake boat ride. The walk along the water can extend to several kilometres, so the trip rates as moderate for travellers who do the full lakeside stretch. The best season is May to September, when the water is warm enough for swimming and boats run; July and August are the busiest and hotels fill quickly, and the town can feel crowded on weekends. Last trains back to Lyon leave in the evening, so check the SNCF Connect app before settling on a dinner. Visitor information is available at lac-annecy.com.